Transition materials for
A Level History
Russia 1855 - 1964
Introduction
So you are considering studying History at A
level…
Welcome to the A level History pack preparing you to
start your A level History course.
This pack contains a step by step programme of
activities and resources created to prepare you for the
academic demands of A level History study.
All activities are aimed to be used after you complete
your GCSE exams and should be completed in stages
throughout the remainder of the summer term and
over the summer holidays to ensure you are ready to
start your course in September.
If you would like any further information on AS
Tsarist and Communist Russia, please speak to Mr
Rochester.
Component 1 – Tsarist and Communist Russia 1855-1964
What’s assessed?
The study in breadth of a period of major historical change or development and associated
primary evidence.
Assessed
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AS level= Written exam: 1 hour 30
minutes
2 questions (one compulsory)
50 marks
50% of AS
50 minutes on Section A and 40
minutes on Section B
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A level= Written exam: 2hours 30
minutes
3 questions (one compulsory)
80 marks
40% of A level
60 minutes on Section A and 45
minutes on each of the 2 questions
in Section B
Questions
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2 sections
Section A= 1 compulsory question will ask to look at interpretations of a specific
historical context (AS=25 A Level=30 marks)
Section B= AS= 1 from 2 essays= 25 marks or A Level=2 from 3 essays= 2x 25 marks
Assessment objectives for component 1
o AO1: Demonstrate, organise and communicate knowledge and understanding to
analyse and evaluate the key features related to the periods studied, making
substantiated judgements and exploring concepts, as relevant, of cause,
consequence, change, continuity, similarity, difference and significance.
o AO2 (THIS IS NOT RELEVANT TO COMPONENT 1): Analyse and evaluate appropriate
source material, primary and/or contemporary to the period, within the historical
context.
o AO3: (Analyse and evaluate, in relation to the historical context, different ways in
which aspects of the past have been interpreted).
Answering source question in Section A
 AS level= With reference to these extracts and your understanding of the historical
context, which of these extracts provides the more convincing interpretation of….
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A level= Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing
the arguments in these three extracts are in relation to….
AS level requires comparison of sources and an overall judgement. Which one is most
convincing?
For each source you must split it into sections:
1. Pick out parts of the argument that are convincing – Back this up with your own
knowledge
2. Pick out parts of the argument you disagree with or pick out arguments it misses out.
YOU DO THIS FOR BOTH SOURCES THEN MAKE A CONCLUSION AS TO WHICH IS MOST
CONVINCING BY COMPARING THE SOURCES AND COMING TO AN OVERALL JUDGEMENT.
Answering essay/s question in Section B
AS Level – Essay question will contain a quotation advancing a judgement, and could be
followed by ‘explain why you agree or disagree with this view.
A Level – The essay questions require analysis and judgement, and could include’ How
successful…’ or ‘To what extent…’ or ‘How far…’ or a quotation offering a judgement
followed by ‘Assess the validity of this view’
OUTLINE OF TOPICS – Tsarist and Communist Russia 1855-1964
This option is one of the breadth studies that AQA offers, and as such covers over 100 years. The
content is divided up into two parts:
Part 1 is just for those who do the AS and covers 1855-1917
Those doing the full A Level will do Part 1 (1855-1917) and Part 2 (1917-1964) thus covering the full
100 year time period.
Part 1: Autocracy, Reform and Revolution: Russia 1855-1917 – WHAT YOU WILL COVER IN YEAR 12
This part covers the reigns of the last three tsars – Alexander II, Alexander III and Nicholas II. The
context of this period is that Russia was going through enormous change due to the emancipation
of the serfs in 1861 and due to the need to industrialise and modernise Russian economy. Part 1 is
split into sub sections
Trying to preserve autocracy – 1855-1894
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Russian society in the middle of the nineteenth century (including the impact of the Crimean
War in the trigger for change.
Alexander II and his reforms (Specifically the role of the emancipation of the Serfs)
Reaction and revolutionaries.
Alexander III and his counter-reforms
Challenge to the tsarist rule (Including types of opposition) and how this was dealt with.
The ideas of the revolutionaries
Economic and social developments due to tsarist rule.
Social divisions of the nobles and peasantry.
Cultural influence of the Church.
Problems that remained in Russia after the death of Alexander III
The collapse of autocracy – 1894-1917
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Political authority under Nicholas II
Events of the 1905 revolution
The era of the Dumas
Industrial transformation and developments in agriculture (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT)
Social developments, mainly in regards to working conditions in towns
Cultural changes in Russia (Women, education etc)
Opposition to Nicholas II including the ideas and ideologies of opposition (Marxism,
socialism, liberalism)
Political authority, opposition and the state of Russia in Wartime.
Political developments of 1917 Wartime Russia.
The Bolshevik takeover and the establishment of the Bolshevik government by December
1917
Was autocracy a failure? Summary
Reading List
Books – Non Fiction
 Russian History: A very short introduction: Geoffrey Hosking –
This book discusses all aspects of Russian history, from the struggle
by the state to control society to the transformation of the nation into
a multi-ethnic empire, Russia's relations with the West, and the postSoviet era.
 Stalin: A Biography: Robert Service – A full assessment of Stalin
from his early years in Georgia, his youthful activism, his relationship
with Lenin, his family and his party members.
 The Russian Revolution: A Very Short Introduction – S.A Smith –
This focusses on the main events and developments in Soviet Russia
between 1917 – 1936.
Books – Fiction
 The Road of Bones: Fine, Anne - Based on life in Russia under
Stalin, it is a fable about the nature of totalitarianism. It reveals how
power corrupts and how quickly the oppressed can become the
oppressors.
 Natasha’s Will: Joan Lingard - A dangerous journey into exile
during the Russian Revolution. When Natasha’s grandfather is
arrested in St Petersburg in 1917, her aristocratic family are forced
to flee for their lives.
 Animal Farm: A Fairy Story: George Orwell – A well- known classic
story detailing the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of
1917.
Films
 The Romanovs – An Imperial Family – A Russian film with
subtitles, set in 1917 focussing on the last days of Tsar Nicholas II
and the rest of the Romanov family.
 Enemy at the Gates – Set in 1942, in the Battle of Stalingrad, the
main character, Vasily Zaytsev (played by Jude Law), becomes the
poster boy for the Red Army due to his sniper skills.
 Animal Farm – The cartoon version of the book, showing the events
leading up to the Russian Revolution.
 Child 44 – Featuring Tom Hardy, the film follows a disgraced
member of the Russian military police. Charged with investigating a
series of child murders during the Stalin era, where supposedly this
sort of crime doesn’t exist.
 Bridge of Spies – Featuring Tom Hanks, an American lawyer is
recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy in court, and organise an
exchange of the spy for a captured American pilot.
 Goodbye Lenin – Although not set within the time parameter of the
topic, this comedy focusses on a young man who has to protect his
fragile Mother who has come out of a long coma from a fatal shock
that Communism has ended.
Useful links
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/topics/zq7qtfr/resources/1
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/russi
a/
Independent Research
1855-1905 – Alexander II, Alexander III, Nicholas II
Task: Create a one page fact file on each Tsar.
Each should include: Name, reign, family background, events during his
reign, impact, end of reign, death.
1905-1917 – The downfall of the Romanovs
Task: Watch the documentary below. The first half should give you the
background for the above section. For the second half, create a mind map
using the following headings:
Rasputin
1905 Revolution
The downfall of the
Romanovs/causes of the
1917 revolution
Impact of World
War One
Strengths of the
Bolsheviks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpHD5ts2u-o&safe=active
1917-1924 – The Bolshevik early years
Task: Consider the questions below:
1. Why was Lenin so popular in 1917?
2. Name 3 events that happened between 1917 and 1924.
3. Did Lenin remain popular?
1924-1934 – Stalin comes to power
Task: Create a fact file on Josef Stalin.
Include: Early life, political beliefs before 1917, role in 1917 revolution,
role in Bolshevik party.
1934-1953 – The Terror!
Task:
1. Look up the role of the NKVD in Russia under Stalin
2. Investigate the interrogation techniques used by the NKVD
3. What do you think it was like to live under Stalin?
1953-1964 – Khrushchev and the Cold War
Task:
1. Read the following article – why do you think this speech had such a
big impact?
2. Look up the definition of foreign policy. What do you think the
cartoonist’s opinion was, about foreign policy of the USSR and the
USA?
Required Knowledge and Skills
Key Pre Knowledge topics
1. Fact File of Russia – Research the situation in modern day Russia
including the following facts:
 Population
 Capital
 Flag
 Currency
 Border countries
 Border continents
 President
 Land area
 Ethnic make-up
 Religions
 Languages
2. Russian Map work – Print off a colour A4 map of Russia. Locate and
mark the following:
 St Petersburg
 Moscow
 Novgorod
 Arctic Ocean
 Siberian Plane and Peninsula
 Ural Mountains
3. Glossary of key terms – Create a glossary of the following words:
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Tsar
Liberalism
Revolution
Intelligentsia
Serf
Serfdom
Zemstva
Emancipation
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Taxation
Autocracy
Slav
Communism
Capitalism
Assassination
Bolshevik
Menshevik
Cheka
Soviets
New Economic Policy
Politburo
Proletariat
Bourgeoisie
Collectivisation
Gulag
Totalitarian
4. Timeline – Create a timeline of key events of 1905 – 1917. Your first
event should be Bloody Sunday and your last event should be the
October Revolution.
5. Job Description – What does it take to be a Tsar? Create a job
description for someone who would like to rule a country as great as
Russia. What key qualities would the candidate need to have?
6. Romanov Family Tree – Dating back to Alexander I, create a family
tree of the ruling Romanov dynasty.
7. Quiz work – Create a ten question quiz from all your knowledge
from this section of study that you can give to your classmates. Don’t
make this quiz easy for them!
Baseline Assessment
Task 1 – Historian’s opinion
'The emancipation had to be, he knew it, but he did not like it' Crankshaw, 2000
Write a paragraph on what this historian’s opinion might be on the reforms
that Nicholas brought in.
Task 2 – Essay writing
You will need to complete two essays based on the research you have done.
The questions and suggested structure are below:
1. “Tsar Nicholas II was an effective leader”. How far do you agree with
this statement?
2. “Stalin was a ruthless dictator” How far do you agree with this
statement?
Suggested structure:
Four paragraphs (two arguing each side), and a conclusion.
The World is out there…
1. Pushkin House – Visit Pushkin House in central London as it is the
Russian culture centre in London. http://www.pushkinhouse.org/
2. London Walks – Visit this website to find a variety of
monuments/buildings and shops - http://london-walks.rbth.com/
3. Highgate cemetery – Visit Highgate cemetery in Highgate, North
London to visit the figurehead of Communism, Karl Marx’s grave.
4. The Society for Co-operation in Russian and Soviet Studies – This
library and cultural centre promotes knowledge of the culture,
language and history of Russia and the former Soviet Union. The
SCRSS is based in London and has a list of current activities on its’
website - http://www.scrss.org.uk/
5. The Kompass – This website is “your pass to all things Russian in the
U.K” - http://thekompass.rbth.co.uk/
6. Royal Air Force Museum – Visit the National Cold War exhibition in
Shropshire for a comprehensive study of Cold War artefacts.
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/things-to-see-anddo/hangars/cold-war.aspx
7. Theatre – Animal Farm – This is regularly performed in and around
London.